Durga Puja checklist
Durga Puja is the most garment-intensive festival in Kolkata. Five days, five outfits, multiple family members. The planning window opens in September.
If sindoor falls on a silk saree at Dashami, do not wet it. Keep dry and bring to The Swiss Laundry within 24 hours. Mention it specifically on arrival.
Diwali checklist
Diwali occasion wear is typically stored from Puja through to October/November. The planning window: 2 weeks before the festival. What to bring in: salwar kameez and kurtas stored since last Diwali. Silk or embroidered sarees. Children's occasion wear. Any garment stored without cleaning after last year's Diwali.
If wax from a diya falls on festival clothing, allow it to solidify completely before attempting removal. Do not rub while hot. Once hard, gently flake off the surface wax. Take the garment to a professional for the residue — do not attempt to iron or steam it at home.
Eid checklist
Eid ul-Fitr falls at the end of Ramadan — typically April to June in Kolkata. The planning window: 2 weeks before Eid. Bring in all sherwanis, kurta-pyjamas, silk sarees and embroidered suits stored after the last Eid. Eid in April–June means garments are worn in Kolkata's most intense heat and humidity — perspiration staining is particularly severe. Bring all worn garments for cleaning within 48 hours of the festival.
Christmas and New Year
December–January festival occasion wear in Kolkata includes evening wear, formal suits, and lighter formal fabrics suitable for Kolkata's mild winter. The planning window: 1 week before events. What to bring in: formal evening wear stored since the last formal occasion, any garment with stains from last year's events, structured suits or blazers that need pressing.
General rules for all festivals
The same principles apply across every festival, every year.
"The single most effective thing you can do for your festival wardrobe is clean it after every festival, not before the next one."
The Swiss Laundry is open Monday to Saturday year-round. For festival preparation, bring garments in at least 1 week before the event. Express and same-day service available on request. Post-festival cleaning within 48 hours: this is when stain removal is most effective. WhatsApp 9836233354 for priority booking.